Noise Boo-llution: Pizza Face, Xiao Wang, Boss Cuts, Scare the Children, Default
It’s a bit surreal to think that China is one of the few countries to have a no holds barred Halloween this year, a place where most locals will still look at you cross-eyed on the subway as you don your zombified Mulan get-up. And even better, a Halloween that falls on Saturday! So you know what that means – ghouls and goblins terrorizing every live music event in town – doesn't matter if it’s punk, metal, or twee pop. It's time to get out that costume and thrash with the best of 'em.
Friday, Oct 30
Discord, Uncle Bad, Labor Glory 劳动光荣, Pizza Face, Radical Spinz 无敌风火轮 at School
After a few bumps in the road, this year’s annual Punk Rock Tribes, hosted by local label and promoter D.O.G is finally getting its due with a collection of shows across Beijing (and beyond) shining a spotlight on China’s robust punk scene. Tonight’s lineup features the long-standing Discord, ska lovers Uncle Bad, renegade punk ruffians Pizza Face, ultras punk outfit Labor Glory, and pop-punks Radical Spinz. The Halloween attire may not be out in full force yet but expect plenty of get-ups for the occasion. 8pm. RMB 100 (advance only)
The Flyx, The Sino Hearts, Shave N’ Shut, Gum Bleed牙龈出血, XiaoWang 小王, Laisee 利事at Omni Space
The Punk Rock Tribes festivities continue down the road with another riotous gathering of bands bringing the heat including the always reliable and spirited Gum Bleed, Oi! punk staples Shave N’ Shut, the aerobatic and nimble hardcore band Laisee, all-female punk purveyors Xiao Wang, and The Sino Hearts – a wide-eyed spirited burst of punk, power pop, neo mod and garage rock fresh off their newest LP, Mandarin A Go-Go. 7pm. RMB 100/150
24th Division 廿四师, Sansu 参宿, Human Speed人类的速度, SHA! at RAM Brewery
It’s been a while since I’ve seen a solid evening of emerging indie rock tunes but RAM Brewery continues to impress with their offbeat and intriguing night including this impressive lineup that promises to offer everything from Midwest-emo to Krautrock, as more well-known bands like SHA! rub shoulders with emerging acts such as Human Speed and Sansu. It’s the element of surprise that excites me – and precisely the kind of lineup we need more of these days. 8.30pm. RMB 66/88
Zhang Chi 张驰, Ma Shihua 马仕骅, Li Hanxuan 李寒轩, Lu Yixuan 吕逸璇 , Yin Fangzhou 尹方舟 at Aotu Space
The architectural artistry of computer music is at the forefront of Aotu Space’s special showcase this All Hallow’s Eve as an array of computer software manipulators and sound artists, including Zhang Chi, Ma Shihua, Li Hanxuan, Lu Yixuan, and Yin Fangzhou, take the stage in order to break down the barriers between those who write software algorithms and those who create music. 8.30pm. RMB 60/80
Saturday, Oct 31
Boss Cuts, Joker’s Belief, Back Seat Bingo at Temple
I have no idea what Temple is going through right now – but it’s hard to imagine Beijing without it. So if I was in the capital this weekend I’d definitely be setting up shop at Temple, who above all know how to do Halloween right. Besides their annual indie film competition ‘Rock Against Horror’ (held on Sunday as you nurse that hangover) tonight they’ll be hosting surf rock torchbearers cosplaying as none other than The Cramps for a riotous evening of rock and roll alongside Joker’s Belief and Back Seat Bingo. Free. 9pm
WHAI, QianChuan Drugstore 浅川药店, Langzhi 浪之 at School
Local promoters Cold Neo holds an indie rock showcase this evening with a collection of artists on their roster including everyone’s favorite psych prog-rock group WHAI, who have been together since 2012 and have committed themselves to a heavy, offbeat brand of psychedelic rock and roll. Joining them are alternative rockers Qianchuan Drugstore, whose madcap blend of post-punk attitude and avant-garde electronica has garnered them quite the fanbase, plus bluesy indie rockers Langzhi. 9pm. RMB 100/120
Scarlet Horizon 绯色地平线 at Omni Space
Metal music with a visual edge – tonight promises to be a treat for both ears and eyes as Beijing visual kei outfit Scarlet Horizon bring their theatrical deathcore to Omni Space for what will surely be an epic show, perfect for those who are looking to apply a little more black mascara than usual for the holiday. The band has been a force to reckon with, exploring the nooks and crannies of contemporary metal music with surgical precision and bombastic ferocity. 8pm. RMB 100/120
A.J.K 玉麟军, Dr. V'Agent V博士, Devil Mask 画皮, High Song 骸骨形态, Scare The Children, DZ-7 at Yue Space
If you’re looking to get your metal kicks a bit closer to the center of town (and a wider variety of over the top costumes) then look no further than Yue Space, who’ll be hosting a wide range of metal bands – from the industrial goth of A.J.K. to the anti-war aesthetics of Devil Mask, and a band that's basically tailor-made for Halloween, the mask-wielding horror metal outfit Scare The Children. Word is, they've quietly been putting together some new masks to add to your nightmares. 8pm. RMB 100/150
S.A.W 锯, Evil Thorn 恶刺, Bergrisar 山岭巨人, The Uncrowned 奉天, The Dark Prison Massacre 暗狱戮尸at 13 Club
Wait – you thought we were done with metal here? In your wildest dreams. It’s not a proper Halloween without every metal band in town finally giving you the perfect excuse to go out with your face painted white. And if there’s any place that knows a thing or two about raising the dead it’s 13 Club, the infamous metal club that simply refuses to die! On the bill, they’ve got mainstay acts like S.A.W, Evil Thorn, Bergrisar, The Uncrowned, and The Dark Prison Massacre. 8pm. RMB 130/150
Peace & Wave 和平和浪, ETA伊塔 at Blue Note
Blue Note looks to loosen up (and bring a whole market of young concert-goers) with this bubbly one-two funk punch tonight. On the menu are raising Shanghai funk-driven rockers Peace and Wave, whose retro 90s flavored city pop sound will have audiences buzzing in delight, alongside ETA, out of Changsha, who’ll bring their love of soul into their funk grooves. 8pm. RMB 199
Sunday, Nov 1
Default 缺省 at Yue Space
Beijing shoegaze outfit Default transforms before our very ears on their bold and surprising new EP, Can You Hear The Whistle Blow?, out on SJ Records. Shedding a good chunk of their overflowing reverb-soaked sound, the band is aiming for something more pop-oriented, crafting four tracks that retain their appeal for emotional gravitas, put through the medium of indie pop, American folk guitars, and female-led rock and roll (ala Cranberries, Passion Pit, and Wolf Alice) thanks to the addition of vocalist Edine. It’s an intriguing new direction for the band that has sky-rocketed in their appeal these past few years and hints at the endless possibilities at their hands. True craftsmen, the band is closing out their nationwide tour at Omni Space. Sold out? You tell me! 8.30pm. RMB 120
West By West, Shii at Yue Space
Two rising artists bring their lush and expertly crafted fusion of electronic music and indie rock to Yue Space tonight – Wuhan’s Shii and Xi’an’s West By West. Taking cues from such trailblazing artists as Robyn and Flume, Shii inhibits a slick synth-pop world laced with IDM, glitch, darkwave, and dream pop elements, twisting ear-pleasing melodies in on themselves with surgical precision and a smooth sensuality. Meanwhile, West By West crafts a sound that is steeped in a moody haze of smoldering desire, fleeting moments, and hushed sorrow, displaying a keen sense of rhythmic control and impeccable sound design. Both acts have recent debut releases with label Merrier Records – a label which everyone should be checking out now – and are having a killer year thus far. 8.30pm. RMB 100/120
Pizza Face, Hard Candy Revolution硬糖革命, Left Behind Child 留守儿童 at School
Finish off the weekend with one red-hot Sunday night line-up at one of the last beacons of punk music – School Bar – featuring female-fronted punk outfit Pizza Face (never afraid to ‘bait you one moment with a serenade and clock you over the head with giddy ferocity Harley Quinn-style the next) and Hard Candy Revolution, as well as blunt-edged metal-inflicted rockers Left Behind Child. 9pm. RMB 60/80
Gaoyang Li Trio at fRUITYSPACE
You know what’s cool? Having fRUITYSPACE back, that’s what. The quaint basement space has been a safe haven for Beijing’s more esoteric musicians looking to stretch their wings – if not some of the jazz scene’s finest such as Gaoyang Li – one of the city’s finest saxophonists. Tonight he joins double bass player Hu Hao and percussionist Kevin Gao for an impromptu night of jazz. 8.30pm. RMB 60
READ: Even More Events to Spook Your Spirit This Halloween Weekend
Images: Scare the Children, Courtesy of the organizers
